Grapple



April 25, 1939. E. v. BROWN 2,156,109

GRAPPLE Filed Jan. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l In (ye/2W Ernest Vfiwazwz April 25, 1939.

E. v. BROWN 2,156,109

GRAPPLE Filed Jan. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /7 ma /0? m3 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAPPLE Application January 11, 1937, Serial No. 119,956

27 Claims.

The present invention relates to grapples of the type known as sheet grabs or lifters particularly adapted to be used in handling piles of plates or sheets of material, such as sheet metal and the like.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a sheet grab or grapple which is adjustable to handle various widths of sheets, which is convenient and easy to operate, and

which does not require excessive head room for its proper operation. Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a grapple or sheet grab in which the load engaging parts that support the sheets move in a horizontal plane in all positions of adjustment, and a further object of the present invention is the provision of a sheet grab in which the means for changing or adjusting the width of the device is disposed substantially in the plane of the supporting beams or members carrying the load engaging elements.

Another important object of the present invention is th provision of a sheet grab in which the supporting beams or members are pivotally connected at their mid-points for horizontal swinging and which at their ends carry four load supports that move in and out with equal speeds and are maintained parallel during all periods of adjustment. In this connection a further object of the present invention is the provision of suspension means for the sheet grab that is connected with the beams substantially coincident with the axis of pivotal connection between the aforesaid members. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a sheet grab of this type in which the parts are always maintained in balance irrespective of adjustment of the unit to accommodate different widths of sheets.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of adjusting mechanism for varying the width or distance between the load supporting parts which is so constructed and arranged as to be self-locking and to always occupy an intermediate position at the end of the unit, irrespective of adjustment of the unit for sheets of various widths.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred constructions.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of one form of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a view looking toward the right hand end of the unit as shown in Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the grapple or sheet grab is shown as comprising a pair of members I and 2 of structural iron construction, preferably in the form of I- 10 beams of suitable dimensions commensurate with the loads to be handled. The beam member I consists of a web section 4 and upper and lower flanges 5 and 6. The web 4 is interrupted or cut out, as at I, leaving an open space to receive por- 15 tions of the beam member 2, as will be explained below, while from each end. the flanges 5 and 6 extend substantially to the center of the member and are reinforced by plates 9 and Ill that are preferably extended longitudinally of the mem- 2 ber a substantial distance beyond the open section I of the member I and are welded to the flanges 5 and 6 or otherwise secured thereto in any manner desired. Downwardly extending arms I3 and I are welded at their upper ends to the outer ends of the beam member I, as best shown in Figure 1.

The other beam member 2 is of similar construction and also embodies a web I5 and flanges I6 and II, the web I5 being cut out, as at I8, while the flanges It and II are reinforced by longitudinally extending plates 20 and 2! welded or otherwise permanently and rigidly secured thereto. Downwardly extending load carrying arms v23 and 24 are welded at the upper ends to the outer ends of the beam member 2 in substantially the same manner as described above in connection with the beam member I.

The beam members I and 2 are connected together for pivotal movement about a pivot axis that lies midway between the ends of the members, and in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 the flange I! of the beam 2 lies between the flanges 5 and 6 of the beam I and adjacent the lower flange of the latter. In order to secure this arrangement, it will be necessary to cut out a portion of the flange 5 of the member I before the reinforcing plate 9 is attached, in order to drop the beam 2 in place, or if desired both flanges 5 and 6 of the beam I 5 may be severed at an intermediate point and assembled around the flange I! and the reinforcing plate 2i before the reinforcing plates 9 and It for the member i are attached to both flange sections thereof. The reinforcing plates 5 9 and ID for the member I, and the reinforcing plates 20 and 2i for the other beam 2 are apertured, as well as the associated sections of the beam flanges, to receive the shank of a suspending eye-bolt 21 which is passed through said openings after the beams I and 2 are assembled in the relation shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the lower end of the eye-bolt 21 is threaded and receives a nut 28 and suitable locking mechanism for holding the nut in position while accommodating the pivotal movement of the beams I and 2 about the axis of the bolt 2?. The latter establishes the pivot axis about which the members I and 2 are capable of swinging and, in addition, the bolt 21 serves as the means for suspending the grapple and the load carried thereon. The eye of the bolt 2? is indicated at 29 and afiords a convenient manner for fastening the grapple to any suitable or available hoist mechanism, in--' dicated in Figure 2 by the reference numeral 30.

Four load supporting elements are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the four load carrying arms welded to opposite ends of each of the beam members I and 2, these elements being indicated by the reference numerals 35, 36, 3! and 38. Each element is in the form of an angle iron having its lower flange extending horizontally inwardly and its other flange extending upwardly. These angles serve as load engaging jaws, and the jaws or elements at each side of the grab are connected together by telescoping members that maintain the load engaging jaws in alinement. The telescoping connection may take any form desired, but preferably a sleeve 49 is welded to the back of the vertical flange of one of the load carrying angles while the companion angle has a cylindrical bracket 4! secured thereto, as by Welding, and the bracket 4| carries a. rod 42 fixed thereto and which extends into the sleeve 49 in telescoping relation. Figure 2 clearly shows the telescoping connection between the load carrying angles 3'! and 38, and it will be understood that the telescoping connection between the other load car- :rying angles 35 and 35 is of similar construction.

From the above description it will be apparent that as the beams I and. 2 swing relative to one another about the axle defined by the bolt 21, the loadcarrying angles will approach or recede from one another by movement in a horizontal plane and will be maintained in parallelism with respect to one another by the above described telescoping connections. Also, by'virtue of the pivotal interconnection of the members I and 2, the latter will be swung in substantially the same horizontal plane, so that little head room is required for the device. This feature is further augmented by the fact that the mechanism for swinging the beams I and 2 relative to one another about the axis 21 in order to adjust the load carrying angles for the desired width of sheets is also disposed for operation in the same plane that contains the swinging beams I and 2. This adjusting mechanism will now be described.

A nut member 50 is provided with trunnions or pins 5| and 52 by which two pairs of links 54 and 55 are pivotally connected thereto. The links 54 extend generally laterally outwardly and are pivoted, as at 51 and 58, to the upper and lower flanges I6 and I! of the beam member 2, while the other pair of links 55 extend in the other direction and are pivoted, as at 6!], to the (upper and lower flanges 5 and 6 of the beam member I. member 59' is always maintained in a central position between the beams I and 2, independe ently of the angle between the latter.

A screw shaft It is threaded through the aperture in the nut member 58 and at its outer end carries a hand wheel 1i having a handle I2. At its inner end, the screw shaft I0 is fastened for rotation but held against longitudinal displacement in the intermediate portion of a U-shaped strap member I4 the ends of which are apertured and receive the shank of the eyebolt 2?. If desired, a spacing sleeve I5 may be disposed between or welded to the ends of the U- shaped strap member It. Any suitable means, such as rings or collars 76 and 11, may be provided for holding the screw shaft I0 against axial displacement relative to the anchoring U-shaped strap member It. The weight of the adjusting mechanism is preferably counterbalanced by a pair of blocks and SI that are secured near the ends of the beams I and 2 in any suitable manner, and it is to be noted that as the hand wheel TI is turned to swing the beams to a closed position, accommodating narrow sheets, the nut member 50 is run outwardly from the axis 21 at the same time that the counterweights 80 and BI are swung to a position in which their weight is more efiective in balancing the adjustin mechanism.

The operation of the sheet grab or lifter shown in Figures 1 and 2 is believed to be obvious from the above description. When it is desired to engage a load, the hand wheel II is turned by the handle '52 until the spacing between the load engaging angles 35, 35 and 37, 38 is suflicient to pass down around the load, and then the mechanism'Bll is actuated to lower the grab about the load. When the horizontal flanges of the load engaging angles clear the lower edges of the load, the hand wheel II is turned so as to thread the nut member 5!] outwardly, thereby closing the beams I and 2 about the load and causing the horizontal flanges of the load engaging angles to move in under the edges of the load to be lifted. As soon as the adjusting mechanism is brought to the proper position, the beams I and 2 are held in that position by virtue of the selflocking characteristic of the screw and nut mechanism I0, 55, so that as soon as the load engaging elements are brought into the proper position, the grab may be raised by the hoisting mechanism 30 and carried to the place desired without requiring the operator to move the adjusting means. It will also be noted that by virtue of the links 54 and 55, the shaft I0 and the hand wheel II are always disposed in an intermediate position between the beams I and 2 at one end of the grab and with thehand wheel ll in a conveniently accessible position at one end of the load.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 includes certain modifications of some of the parts but, in general, embodies the general features described above. The beams or supporting members are indicated by the reference numerals IDI and I02 and, like the beams described above, comprise structural shapes, such as I-beams, with web openings or interruptions I03 and I04. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the beams IIlI and I02 are of the same dimensions but the upper and lower flanges of the member I02 terminate at the same points I04 where the web terminates, whereby sufiicient space is provided to receive the other By virtue of these links, the nut beam member IQI between a pair of upper and lower plates I81 and I [83 that are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the flanges of the mem ber I112. The flanges of the member I!!! and the reinforcing plates Ill? and I05 of the member I62 are apertured to receive a pivot suspension eyebolt I ID, the lower end I I I of which is threaded to receive a nut H2 held on the bolt "I It! by any suitable means. The eye II 3 of the bolt I ill is adapted to receive the hook of any suitable hoisting mechanism.

The outer ends of the two beam members It and I82 have the upper and lower flanges rounded, as best shown in Figure 3, and apertured to receive corner bolts H5. A sleeve H6 is welded between the ends of the upper and lower flanges and if desired, the sleeve at each end of the beam may be welded to the adjacent portions of the web. A tubular corner post I26 extends downwardly from each end of each of the beams IdI and I62 and is also welded to the end of the beam associated therewith. A gusset plate I 2i serves to reinforce the connection of each of the corner posts to the beam end.

Four load engaging elements I25, 25, I21 and I28 are arranged in substantially the same relation as described above in connection with the load supporting angles 35, 36, 3'! and 38, the load supporting elements I25, I25, I27 and IE8 each consisting of an angle member having a vertical flange and a laterally inwardly extending horizontal flange. The supporting angles I and I2? carry sleeves I3I and I32 which are welded to the back side of the vertical flange of the asso ciated angle, and the other load supporting angles I25 and I23 have tubes I33 and I34 welded to the backs of the vertical flanges, with spacing straps I36 and IE'I disposed therebetween in order to bring the center line of the tubular members I33 and I34 in line with the sleeves IN and I32 so as to provide for telescoping action of these parts.

Each of the load supporting angles I25, I26, I21 and I28 also has a corner post pivot casting I ID bolted or otherwise secured thereto, as indicated at I ii. As best shown in Figure 5, each of the corner post pivot castings Mil includes a shouldered section M3 that extends partially up into the associated corner posts I28, and each casting I49 also includes a pair of ears I receiving the attaching bolts NH. The head Ml of each of the bolts H5 is received in a recess I48 formed in the lower portion of the associated corner post casting I so as to provide for rotation of the latter relative to the corner post I2fi.

The mechanism for swinging the beams IIlI and IE2 about the pivot axis defined by the suspending bolt IIil embodies the principles of the mechanism described above in connection with Figures 1 and 2. Pairs of links Ififi and F55 are pivoted at their inner ends to pins 563 and IE that are carried in a nut member I65. The latter has a threaded opening receiving a screw shaft IIi'I to the outer end of which a hand wheel IE8 is attached. The outer ends of the links I653 and IBI are pivotally connected, as by bolts Ila and Ill, to the beams NH and I02. The inner end of the screw shaft IE'I extends inwardly toward the pivot it between a pair of strap members I14 and I 15 that carries apertured blocks I'll and I18 receiving the screw shaft IN. The latter carries collars I89 and I84 that are pinned or otherwise fastened to the shaft I6! and which cooperate with the blocks Ill and I78 to prevent any axial displacement of. the shaft, It] relative to the straps I'M and I'IE but which permit rotation of the shaft in threading the nut member I55 inwardly or outwardly with respect to the pivot III] for swinging the beams II]! and IE2. The inner ends of the strap members I'M and I are apertured to receive the pivot bolt III}, and a sleeve I85 surrounds the pivot bolt Hi! and is welded to the ends of the strap members I14 and I15.

The operation of the sheet grab or lifter shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is substantially the same as the operation of the grab shown in Figures 1 and 2. Rotation of the hand wheel I68 advances the nut member I55 along the screw shaft l6? and exerts a force against the adjacent ends of the beam members It)! and I 62 and swings them toward or away from one another to adjust the distance between the pairs of load engaging angles I25, I26 and I21, I28. During the swinging movements of the beams I8! and I02 the load engaging angles are maintained in parallelism by virtue of the telescoping parts I3I, I33 and 532, I35, and the links I69 and II maintain the screw shaft I6! in a central position between thev beams irrespective of the width of load for which the device is adjusted. Also, as best illustrated in Figure 5, the adjusting mechanism for the beams is disposed substantially in the same plane as the beams themselves, thereby requiring a very small overhead for the operation of the device.

If desired, counterweights I] and MI may be attached to the ends of the members It]! and I opposite the adjusting mechanism for the purpose of balancing the weight of the latter. This is of importance, especially where the grab is suspended from a single point, as the eye N3 of the bolt I It.

While I have shown and described above the preferred construction, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hoist grab comprising a pair of rigid load supporting members pivotally connected together for relative movement about a generally vertical axis, means separate from and connected with said members for moving the latter into and out of load engaging relation, and load engaging means at each end of each of said supporting members.

2. A grapple comprising a pair of beam members pivotally connected together at their intermediate points for swinging in a horizontal plane, generally longitudinally extensible load engaging means connected at opposite ends to the ends of said pivoted beams at each side of the grapple, and suspension means connected with said beams.

3. A grapple comprising a pair of beam members pivotally connected together at their intermediate points for swinging in a horizontal plane, generally longitudinally extensible load engaging means connected at opposite ends to the ends of said pivoted beams, and means disposed in thehorizontal plane of said beams for swinging the latter about the axis of relative swinging movement between said beams.

4. A grapple comprising a pair of beam members pivotally connected together for swinging in a, horizontal plane, aiaw pivotally connected to each end of each of said beam members, and means establishing a telescoping connection between the load engaging jaws at each side of the grapple. I

5. A grapple for sheets, plates and the like comprising a pair of beams pivotally connected together for swinging about a generally vertical axis, supporting means connected with said beams coincident with said axis, load engaging means carried at opposite ends of each of said beams, and telescoping means operatively interconnecting the load engaging means at each side of the grapple for maintaining said load engaging means in parallelism during the swinging movements of said beams.

6. A hoist grab comprising a pair of beams formed of structural iron and having the central web portions open, means pivotally interconnecting the upper and lower flanges of one beam to the upper and lower flanges, respectively, of the other beam, whereby the beams are capable of swinging in substantially the same plane about said axis, depending arms secured to opposite ends of each of said beams, load engaging and lifting means carried at the lower end of each of said arms, and means disposed substantially in the plane of movement of said beams for swinging the latter about said axis to engage and lift loads of various widths.

7. A hoist grab comprising a pair of beams, means pivotally connecting said beams for horizontal swinging in substantially the same plane about a vertical axis, load engaging means connected with opposite ends at each of said beams, the lateral distance between the load engaging means at opposite sides of the grab varying when said beams are swung about said axis, link means pivotally connected at the outer ends to said beams, and means operatively connected to the inner ends of said links for swinging said beams.

8. A hoist grab comprising a pair of load supporting beams, pivot means interconnecting said beams for swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane, load carrying means connected to opposite ends of said beams, link means pivotally connected to said beams, and screw and nut mechanism reacting against said pivot and said link means for swinging said beams toward and away from one another to vary the lateral distance between said load engaging means.

9. A sheet lifter comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected beams swingable about a generally vertical axis, supporting means connected with said beams coincident with said axis, downwardly depending arms secured to opposite ends of each of said beams, a load engaging angle pivotally connected to the lower end of each of said arms and movable in and out with the latter as said beams are swung to bring thearms toward and away from one another, and a sliding connection between the load engaging angles at each side of the lifter for causing said angles to be maintained in parallelism and to approach and to recede from one another While moving in a horizontal plane when said beams are swung about said axis.

10. A sheet lifter comprising a pair of beams, means pivotally interconnecting said beams for swinging movement about a vertical axis and substantially in the same horizontal plane, load engaging means carried at opposite ends of each of said beams and movable toward and away from one another in substantial parallelism when said beams are swung about said axis, link means connected at its outer end to each of said beams, a

nut member pivotally' connected to the inner ends of each of said link means, said two link means being of substantially the same length so that said nut is disposed at an intermediate point between said beams irrespective of their swinging motion about said axis, and means for moving said nut toward and away from said axis for swinging said beams, comprising a screw connected at its inner end against longitudinal movement relative "to said beams and threaded into said nut for moving the same toward and away from the axis of said beams, and means mounted on the outer end of said screw and disposed at one end of the lifter for turning the screw to vary the distance between said load engaging means.

11. In a grapple, the combination of a pair of relatively movable members having load engaging means, means extending from one end. of the grapple for adjusting the position of said relatively movable members, and means at the outer ends of said members for counterbalancing said adjusting means.

12. A hoist grab comprising a pair of beam members pivotally connected at their mid points for lateral swinging about a vertical axis, load engaging means connected to opposite ends of each of said beams, means for swinging said beams to vary the Width between said load engaging means, comprising a yoke member pivoted to said beams adjacent the central portion thereof, a rotatable screw connected to said yoke and held against longitudinal displacement with respect thereto, a nut member receiving said screw, and link means of substantially the same length pivotally connecting said nut member to each of said beams, whereby advance of the nut member by rotating the screw exerts a force through said links serving to swing said beams'about the axis of pivotal connection, and means carried on the ends of said beams opposite said links and associated parts for counterbalancing the latter.

13. In a grapple, a pair of members pivotally connected together at their mid points, suspension means connected to said members at their pivot connection for supporting the members, load engaging means carried by the ends of said members, means for swinging said members toward and away from one another comprising an operating part extending beyond the ends of said members and a part movable thereby toward and away from said axis for swinging said members, and means carried by said members opposite said operating means and having an effective lever arm that increases as the second part of said adjusting means moves away from said axis.

14. In a sheet lifter, the combination of a pair of pivotally interconnected members swingable in a substantially horizontal plane, a load support-. ing angle pivoted to each end of each of said members and disposed with its horizontal leg extending inwardly, a sleeve member fixed to the back of the vertical leg of each of twooppositely disposed load engaging angles, and a companion 7 adjacent the other flange of the other member, plates welded to the flanges where said members cross one another and apertured coincident with the pivot axis of said members, and suspension means disposed in said apertures.

16. In a sheet grab, a pair of load supporting members formed of structural iron pivotally connected together at their central portions for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis, the central web portion of at least one of said members being open and receiving the other member between the flanges at said open section, thereby accommodating swinging movement of said members with respect to each other about said axis, and pivotal suspension means connecting said members at said axis.

17. In a sheet grab, a pair of pivotally interconnected members of structural iron construction, one of said members having the central web portion open with the flanges of the member intact and the other member having a central opening between the adjacent ends of both the web and flange portions and reinforcing plates welded to the flange at opposite sides of said opening, said members being disposed with said first member in between said reinforcing plates of the second member, there being registering openings in the flanges of said one member and in the reinforcing plates of the other member, and pivotal suspension means disposed in said openings and arranged to support said members while providing for their swinging movement about said axis.

18. A grapple comprising a pair of beam members pivotally connected together at their intermediate points for swinging in a horizontal plane, generally longitudinally extensible load engaging means connected at opposite ends to the ends of said pivoted beams, and means for swinging said beams about their pivot axis to carry the load engaging means at one side of the grapple toward and away from the load engaging means at the other side.

19. A grapple comprising a pair of beam members pivotally connected together for swinging in a horizontal plane, and load engaging and supporting means connected in laterally rigid relationship to each end of each of said beam members.

20. A grapple comprising a pair of beam members pivotally connected together for swinging in a horizontal plane, and a load engaging jaw pivotally connected to each end of each of said beam members.

21. A grapple for sheets, plates and the like comprising a pair of beams pivotally connected together at their intermediate points for swinging about a generally vertical axis, supporting means connected with said beams, load engaging means carried at opposite ends of each of said beams, and means operatively interconnecting the load engaging means at each side of the grapple for maintaining said load engaging means in parallelism during the swinging movements of said beams.

22. A hoist grab comprising a pair of beams, means pivotally interconnecting the central portions of said beams so that the beams are capable of swinging horizontally about a vertical axis, depending arms secured to opposite ends of each of said beams, load engaging and lifting means carried at the lower end of each of said arms, and meanslfor swinging said beams about said axis to engage and lift loads of various widths.

23. A sheet lifter comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected beams swingable about a generally vertical axis, supporting means connected with said beams, downwardly depending arms secured to opposite ends of each of said beams, a load engaging angle pivotally connected to the lower end of each of said arms and movable in and out with the latter as said beams are swung to bring the arms toward and away from one another, and means for causing said angles to be maintained in parallelism and to approach and to recede from one another while moving in a horizontal plane when said beams are swung about said axis.

24. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of relatively movable beam members, the outer ends of which are apertured, a tubular post having its upper end welded to the outer end of each of the beam members in line with the aperture therein, a pivot casting disposed at the lower end of each post, bolt means extending upwardly from each casting through the associated post and aperture in the beam member for fastening the casting in place, and loadengaging angle means secured to the castings at each side of the grapple.

25. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of relatively movable I-beam members, the flanges at the outer ends of said members being apertured and having sleeves welded between the flanges in line with said apertures, a tubular post having its upper end welded to each lower flange in line with said sleeve and said apertures, a pivot casting disposed at the lower end of each post, bolt means extending upwardly from each casting through the associated post and sleeve for fastening the casting in place, and a loadengaging angle secured to the castings at each side of the grapple.

26. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of load supporting members, means pivotally connecting said members for movement relative to one another, a load-engaging part at each side of the grapple connected to the outer ends of said members, and means for swinging said members, including a shiftab-le block, link means connecting said block with said members, and screw means for shifting said block.

27. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of load supporting members, means pivotally connecting said members for movement relative to one another, a load-engaging part at each side of the grapple connected to the outer ends of said members, and means for swinging said members, including a shiftable block, link means connecting said block with said members, and screw means acting against said first mentioned means for shifting said block.

ERNEST V. BROWN. 

